"I pledge that one day we will bring about the desired change. We worked really hard; we invested our souls and went up and down the country. It's important that we feel proud of this achievement. The public is waiting for us to raise our heads and march on with our way," Herzog said.
"It now seems that the realistic option is going to the opposition, and we proved that we know how to be a fighting opposition. We will be the substitute for a narrow right-wing government," Herzog added, speaking at a meeting with the Zionist Union's new Knesset list.
Zionist Union's co-leader Tzipi Livni noted that "the path Netanyahu and his partners are laying out for the country is not our way... It's clear there are two paths and two different value systems for the country. One is led by Netanyahu and his natural partners, and the other is ours, of the natural partners who still exist even when faced with a path that isolates Israel, one that doesn't see the citizens of the state."
She went on to say that the Zionist Union did what it had to do in the elections. "We joined together for a true partnership and I discovered the leader within Herzog."
"We need to keep representing the hope that has yet to be realized. We'll represent it in every aspect and will continue representing it from the opposition facing the same government for which Netanyahu brought down his previous government," she added.
"Netanyahu's dream government is the State of Israel's nightmare and we need to confront it with our dream and fight for it," Livni concluded.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu arrived at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate his win, putting a note in the historic wall along with his son Yair.
"Here at the holiest place for the Jewish nation, I am thrilled by the historical significance of this place for our nation, which is about 4,000 years old, and renewed the national life in its national homeland. I am thrilled with the responsibility that the nation of Israel has put on my shoulders. I really appreciate this decision by the citizens of Israel to vote for me and my friends against all odds and against strong forces," said Netanyahu.
After realizing the big achievement the Likud made in Tuesday's vote on Wednesday morning, when the results became clear, Netanyahu announced that he plans to form a government as soon as possible.
In a message published by the prime minister he said: "Reality is not waiting for us. Reality does not take a break. The citizens of Israel expect us to formulate a leadership that will work for their benefit in security, economy and society as we have promised – and that’s what I will do."